[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 156 (Thursday, August 13, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43383-43384]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-21798]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Notice of Record of Decision on the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (FEIS) on the Disposal and Reuse of the U.S. Army Garrison, 
Fort Ritchie, Washington County, Maryland

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Record of Decision.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces its Record of Decision 
(ROD) on the FEIS for the disposal and reuse of 638 acres comprising 
the U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Ritchie, Maryland, in accordance with the 
Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990, Public Law 101-510, 
as amended. Approximately 19.3 acres of property and facilities will be 
retained by the Army for use as a National Guard enclave.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the ROD may be obtained from the U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers, ATTN: Mr. Clifford Kidd (CENAB-PL-EM), Baltimore 
District, P.O. Box 1715, Baltimore, Maryland 21203-1715.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Clifford Kidd at (410) 962-3100 or facsimile at (410) 962-4698.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FEIS analyzed two disposal alternatives: 
(1) the No Action Alternative, which entails maintaining the property 
in caretaker status after closure; and (2) the Encumbered Disposal 
Alternative, which entails transferring the property to future owners 
with Army-imposed limitations, or encumbrances, on the future use of 
the property. In the ROD, the Army concludes that the FEIS adequately 
addresses the impacts of property disposal and documents its decision 
to transfer the property as encumbered. The Army's preferred 
alternative is disposal with encumbered title on all property 
transfers. Additionally, the FEIS analyses the potential environmental 
and socioeconomic consequences of three reuse alternatives: (1) Low 
Intensity Reuse Alternative; (2) Low-Medium Intensity Reuse 
Alternative; and (3) Medium Intensity Reuse Alternative. Disposal 
alternatives were developed by the Army. Reuse alternatives were 
developed by the Fort Ritchie Local Redevelopment Authority. The 
resource areas evaluated for potential impacts by the proposed action 
(disposal) and the secondary action (reuse) include: Land Use; Climate; 
Air Quality; Noise; Geology, Soils, and Topography; Water Resources; 
Infrastructure; Hazardous and Toxic Substances; Biological

[[Page 43384]]

Resources and Ecosystems; Cultural Resources; Legacy Resources; 
Sociological Environment; Economic Development; Quality of Life; 
Installation Agreements, and Permits and Regulatory Authorizations.
    The ROD allows the Army to initiate action to dispose of the excess 
property of the U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Ritchie, Maryland, in 
accordance with the Fort Ritchie Redevelopment Plan.
    Copies of the FEIS are available from the above listed address.

    Dated: August 10, 1998.
Raymond J. Fatz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health) OASA (I, L&E).
[FR Doc. 98-21798 Filed 8-12-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M